HB2285 - School Innovation Zones Act Summary

• Creates the School Innovation Zones Act allowing individual schools or school groups to apply for designation as innovation zones to gain greater flexibility from certain state education rules and policies.

• Requires schools seeking innovation zone status to develop an innovation zone plan specifying which rules, policies, and state laws they seek exceptions from, with exceptions prohibited for the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act or No Child Left Behind federal requirements.

• Mandates approval of innovation zone plans by at least 80% of affected school employees through secret ballot vote, followed by review and approval by the local school board and State Board of Education.

• Authorizes the State Board of Education to grant exceptions to board rules and policies through plan approval; exceptions to state laws require passage of a concurrent resolution by the Legislature.

• Requires the State Board of Education to conduct annual progress reviews of approved innovation zone plans and submit annual reports to the Governor and legislative leadership.